...well that should have read "I have to get the envelope weighed"...need coffee...badly...need sleep too!

Rave: Moving weekend for the oldest son! Commuting by car has taken its toll on him and OUR car! My job is to wait for the bed delivery, yippie! I promise no tears until I get home :D

Rave: My youngest had a great time at the Ben Folds concert last night -- the good news is that he came home at a respectable time! I think old age is creeping up on him - he turns 19 on Monday! ((l)) ((^))

Rave: I finished my last summer class yesterday. Now I have two weeks left to study (tough exam coming up), relax, and maybe have some fun before the madness begins all over again :D

Rave: Lots of kind people on this board :)

Rave: My DH ((l))

Rave: My S&BIL and dear nephews are arriving tomorrow from the UK. We cannot wait to see them.

Rave: The grape and cherry tomatoes I planted are mighty tasty :))

Rant: I have never seen my yard look so dry. The heat and haze has just been ugly. The weekend promises to be dry and pleasant. My worry is that in order to enjoy that pleasant weather, we will suffer heavy, flooding rain again. Why can't we ever just have a slow, want to just stay in bed, type of rain?!?

Bonnie, have a wonderful time with you GD! She's a lucky little girl :)

Best wishes to those who are having a difficult time. Hang in there!

Have a happy weekend, everyone! :D

Rave: My 50-year high school reunion party, which we held at our house on the 23rd, was a great success! Members of our little class have become a group of really smart, successful, and fun grown-ups!

Rant: It was soo hot. We set the bar up on the patio, so everybody went in and out..mostly In, back to the ac.

Rave: We had so many pretty flowers, both home-grown and three beautiful arrangements sent by class members.

Rave: Just three days after the party, my husband and I decided to take a spur-of-the-moment driving trip to the west--specifically the north rim of the Grand Canyon, which we had wanted to see for years.

We had a wonderful time, and loved the north rim, and really enjoyed Sedona and Taos (one of my favorite places for years.)

Ah, the joys of retirement!

Another rave: when we got home, I had a mailbox full of notes from old classmates saying how much fun we all had!

Byrd (tired but happy)

Rave--DD flew home yesterday after spending almost 2 weeks with grandparents in CA. She had a ton of fun though, and that all important time with grandparents without parents around.

Rant--Very minor, since life is good, but the heat...ugh! We got to 103 yesterday and no a/c.

Rave--It is Friday, and we plan to just relax this weekend!

Rave: The humidity is gone today, so I'm spending this afternoon at the beach!!!

Rave: 3 weeks until a one week vacation in a beautiful beach house on Cape Cod. I can't wait to go, but it means summer will be ending. It makes me happy and sad at the same time.

Rave: I'm off from work today!

Rave: My big, beautiful front porch (where I'm sitting as I type this)! Some people like their big suburban decks in their yard, but I'm a front porch girl!

I'm going to take the "no rant" road this week! Have a great weekend, everyone!

P.S. Go Bills!!!!!!!!!

PM--If Woody Allan is cute in comparison to your interviewer, then honey, you better have a stiff drink before showing up!! Seriously, kiddo, you will do fabulously and knock 'em dead! Good luck and happy bday to your DH.

Margot--Glad your mom is home and doing better. Isn't it nice when the sunshines over your head?

Jersey--My MIL had surgery for severe stenosis of the spine in Nov. and is a NEW woman. She feels better and has a much better outlook towards life. I think she's 73--don't tell my DH that I can't remember how old his mom is!! Eek. (Maybe not remembering her age is ok, since the other day, I couldn't remember how old I was and had to subtract to figure it out!! And then I ended up being a year older than I thought. Maybe I just suck in math and made a mistake??)

Meesthare--wishing you a quick sell for loads of money and minimal aggravation!

Iceeu2---best wishes and a speedy recovery to your friend!

Rave: The incredible, giving people in Fodorsville. Thank you for sending my class postcards from around the world. My students are going to LOVE this year because of all of you--and in the end, they might not be the stereotypical American who doesn't know geography :) I could never have pulled this off without your help. Thank you so much. (See--Am I going to have to tip the postman after delivering your package? And if so, how much. LOL)

Rave: Atlanta GTG is gonna happen on Sept. 17th. Would love for my favorite FFRR posters to come in and join us! Hint hint!

Rant: I haven't had the time I thought I would this week to organize the GTG because Shayna kitty has been so sick.

Rant: Shayna kitty told me yesterday that she's had enough when she bit me---totally unlike her. The vet told us she wasn't getting better and it was time to make that hard decision. We put her down this AM. I know it was the right thing for her but my heart breaks.

OWJ

jersey -- know the surgery will be harrowing for Dad and you, but my 80-yr.old mother has stenosis (and for various reasons can't have surgery), which has increasingly crippled her, markedly in the last 2 yrs. She has been getting some relief from the epidural steroids, but that can't go on forever. So although no one is lucky to have stenosis, your Dad might be one of the luckier ones if/when the surgery works.

margot55, so hard to see your mother's tears and have to imagine what a horror it must be for her.

iceeu2, courage to both of you.

RAVE: that Fodors has ignored anti-FFRR curmudgeons and allowed us this weekly ramble through each other's lives. Thanks!

OWJ: I am soooo sorry about Shayna Kitty ((l)) You loved her so and did everything you could to help her. Sending big hugs your way ((f))

Rave: Great crops despite drought conditions, garden is not pretty to look at, but my cherry/grape tomatoes are GREAT too, seetheworld- and I made them just seared and popped with a very thin spinach ravoli topped with light olive oil/garlic sauce & parmesano last night. IT WAS OUTSTANDING.

RAVE RAVE RAVE: My team - first with 70 wins and best in MLB. Ryan where are you? You said to talk to me in Sept. Well, we are not yet there-but how about next week when we hit the Bronx! Watch out, here we come.

RAVE: Doctors at John Hopkins replaced my very good friends' oldest son's(25 and just became a doctor)aorta and aortic valve on Monday. He's going to make it. He almost left us very swiftly.
Thank you God. And 3 weeks ago he didn't have a clue he was "sick". Thank God for every moment.

Rave: I got all the women, including granddaughters to put aside Oct. 1 for Wicked downtown. It's a miracle. Now I'm trying to get the best seats with that many all together. I may have to split us a bit.

Rant: One week after that my newest DIL is running the Chicago Marathon and then 2 days later getting major back surgery. She just won't moderate. Doctor has tried, I have tried. I am supportive, but I just had to vent.

jorr, I HATE when someone calls like that. No news is good news.

Have a great weekend everyone and send some rain Chicago way.

Prayers and best wishes to all with loved ones facing surgery and illness.

OWJ--I know your heart is breaking from the loss of your sweet kitty. We've had to go through that awful decision with our precious old dogs, and it's so hard. Remember that it is the hardest but perhaps the kindest thing you could do for her.

Byrd

OWJ - I'm so sorry. We were all praying for her and you. It's still a hard decision to make, even when you know it's the right one.

Not an exciting week here in NJ. As Jersey mentioned, heat & humidity have prevailed. Car feels like a blast furnace every time I have to go somewhere. Forecast promises more comfy 80's this weekend, but back to the 90's by Tues.

Rant: Hot weather makes people (including me) iritable & intolerant.

Rave: DH has started backyard retaining wall project, which will be followed by backyard shed building project. Aaaahhhh Progress!

Happy Weekend Everyone! ((#)) Trish

OWJ--I am SO SORRY to hear about Shayna!! I can only imagine how hard it must be and still is for you. I'm afraid I may have to face that inevitable decision, but hopefully it won't be for a while. My thoughts are with you!

OWJ
So sorry about your kitty.

Thanks everyone. I didn't want to make this FFRR be about me, or the cat, but I do appreciate your kind words and cyberhugs. You guys have been a virtual support system this year and I am profoundly touched.

Now, everybody--let's get that good karma going big time and look for some raves :)

OWJ, so very sorry for the loss of your beloved cat Shayna ((L))

P_M, LOL :-D Best wishes to you and dh! Keep us posted but keep the details to yourself should you opt for C ;-)

STW, enjoy your time with the family! :-)

Rave: Leaving Sunday for a week in Aspen, CO to attend an adult skate week....senior olympics here I come!

Rant / Rave: leaving dh and the cat alone for a week to fend for themselves--I wonder who will win.

Rant: having to throw bras in the dryer in order to, um, get a better fit. Feeling a bit like the wicked witch of the east..."I'm melting..."

:)>-

happy friday all!

pm...good luck! keep us posted. i always take the less is more attitude and hope for the best. my father always said "also, be a company person". complimentary, devoted, etc...

elenapickle...wow! if you see this...congrats on your big news from last week!

seetheworld...ooh, i love ben folds! must have been a great show. concerts in nyc are getting to $$$ unfortunatley.

owj...i am so sad to hear of your news.
i'm starting to volunteer for cats at a no-kill shelter here in new york next week. i hope i don't get too attached, because i can't take a cat in my apt!

rave: my sister is engaged!

rave: had a well needed weekend at home on long island last weekend. the house in under renovation but we still managed to grill, wine, go in the pool, etc...

double rave: my family and friends. continue to to amaze me.

rave: cousins wedding this w'end! it'll be a nice night for him and his fiance/wife!

rave: saw too great movies this past week..."march of the penguins"-absolutley fascinating. and an italian film "catarina in the big city"-cute coming of age movie.

rave: support and info that can be found (and why not give them a plug?) on craigslist and yahoo groups!

:D :D

OWJ: Sorry about your kitty.

PM: Good luck with the interviews!

Also, congratulations to LeAnn. Wow! How exciting!

Rave: Grandparents are celebrating their 50th Anniversary this weekend. My mom's entire family will be there plus 300(!) of the my grandparent's friends.

Rant: We've got a 7 hour drive today to attend and the same 7 hour drive back on Sunday. Not much fun with a toddler!

Rave: My grandparents.

Have a good and safe weekend!

OWJ, let me add to the throngs who are sending their condolences over Shayna - I'm hoping that all the love you shared with one another will be a lasting gift, as it was with our Willie-boy.

Greeting FFR&R'ers ~

Jorr ~ your rave "hmmmmm.....later" has me intrigued!

Bennnie ~ you got it, simplistic happiness!

Meesthare ~ good luck with the house selling.

cd ~ may the workmen be back on their way as I type this.

PM ~ Oh my goodness, you are almost at your interview. Hoped you went with A. :S- Best of luck, sweetie! And ((^)) to your DH.

Ethel ~ Glad you are ok, and that your house is too. Scary! With regards to weight loss, change your exercise up a bit, shock your body. And hang in there, you can do it!

STW ~ I'm sending a postcard to OWJ too! I've got Idaho covered in less than three weeks, hee.

Iceeu2 ~ Strength to you and your loved one. A >:D< too!

Cassandra ~ Great to hear your news!

Jersey ~ Wishing your dad a very good surgery and a speedy recovery, hang in there. p.s. on a happier ((8)) will you send me some tomatoes, ha, my DH LOVES them, and I do too!

Ronkala ~ Man those near misses take your breath away, don't they? Happy you are ok.

Elizabeth ~ Welcome to Max (almost, hee)

Byrd ~ Glad your reunion celebration went well, I was wondering about yours!

OWJ ~ Ohhhhh, Shayna Kitty, bless her heart, she was so lucky to have you as her family all these years. I am very sorry.

CAPH ~ ((L))

LoveItaly ~ If you check in, I hope your icky flu bug is gone, gone, gone!

Rave ~ My rave is that no one was hurt when a gust of wind out of nowhere the other day ripped our table umbrella right out of our deck table set while at the same time shattering the glass of the table into a billion pieces. Little billions of pieces of glass all over the deck, and below on the concrete apron around the pool, the grass, oh my goodness everywhere. The umbrella flew so far. We are SO lucky no one was hurt.

Rave ~ My DH told me he was taking a 1/2 day off today to just spend it with me, hee. And tonight we have Vivaldi, The Four Seasons at Orchestra Hall. Date day and night with my honey! :)

No rants.

Hugs to everyone ((L)) Tiff

Rant----None

Rave----Closing in on my two week vacation out West. Starting on Labor Day Weekend.

One Wandering Jew: was writing as you posted, so I missed the news about Shayna Kitty. I'm so sorry -- hardest thing to do for the 4-footed member of the family. Would like to think she's thanking you now and wishes you peace.